Raptors could be without key player in Game 6 vs. Cavs

2 min read
Raptors could be without key player in Game 6 vs. Cavs

Raptors could be without key player in Game 6 vs. Cavs

Toronto might without their leading scorer from the regular season.

Raptors could be without key player in Game 6 vs. Cavs

Toronto might without their leading scorer from the regular season.

The Toronto Raptors are staring down elimination after a gut-wrenching 125-120 Game 5 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now they might have to face the music without their leading scorer from the regular season.

Brandon Ingram, who averaged 21.5 points per game during the regular season, left Game 5 in the first half with right-heel inflammation—an injury he had been playing through before aggravating it in the second quarter. He’s officially listed as questionable for Friday’s must-win Game 6, leaving the Raptors' playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

It hasn’t been a vintage series for Ingram, to say the least. The Cavs have thrown defensive specialist Dean Wade at him, and he’s been a nuisance, sticking to Ingram like glue in the midrange. On top of that, Cleveland has sent double teams his way, especially late in the shot clock, forcing him into tough looks. The result? Ingram is averaging just 12 points on .324/.444/.769 shooting splits across five playoff games—a far cry from his regular-season efficiency of .477/.382/.820. In Game 5, he managed only one point before exiting.

Even with his struggles, losing Ingram would be a major blow to Toronto’s offense. The Raptors are already without starting point guard Immanuel Quickley, and that’s left a playmaking void that’s been tough to fill. Without Ingram, the scoring burden falls even heavier on Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, who have been carrying the load all series. It’s a lot to ask of two players, especially when the Cavs can now shift their defensive focus—and their best defenders—directly onto them.

On the flip side, Cleveland enters Game 6 with a clean injury report, fully healthy and ready to close out the series. For the Raptors, it’s going to take a near-perfect effort to force a Game 7, and they’ll need all hands on deck—especially if Ingram can’t suit up.

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